Castor having a braking function

Abstract

A castor includes a connecting board, a base bracket connected with the connecting board, a locking disk connected with the connecting board, a wheel mounted on the base bracket, a mounting bracket secured on the base bracket, a braking member connected with the mounting bracket, and a drive unit connected with the braking member. The locking disk has a locking portion. The braking member has a first end provided with a locking section and a second end provided with a mounting portion which has a braking section. Thus, the braking member is pivoted by the drive unit so that the braking section of the braking member is moved to press and brake the wheel, and the locking section of the braking member is moved to engage the locking portion of the locking disk so as to lock the base bracket.

1. A castor, comprising:
 a connecting board; 
 a base bracket pivotally connected with the connecting board; 
 a locking disk connected with the connecting board; 
 a wheel rotatably mounted on the base bracket; 
 a mounting bracket secured on the base bracket; 
 a braking member pivotally connected with the mounting bracket and releasably locked onto the locking disk and the wheel to releasably lock the base bracket relative the connecting board and to releasably lock the wheel relative the base bracket; and 
 a drive unit pivotally connected with the braking member to move the braking member relative to the locking disk and the wheel; 
 wherein the locking disk has a periphery provided with a toothed locking portion; 
 the braking member has a first end provided with a toothed locking section that is movable to engage the locking portion of the locking disk and a second end provided with a mounting portion; 
 the second end portion of the braking member has a side provided with a braking section that is movable to press the wheel; 
 the drive unit includes a driving plate pivotally connected with the braking member, and a linking block pivotally connected with the driving plate; 
 the driving plate of the drive unit has a first end provided with a first pivot section and a second end provided with a second pivot section; 
 the first pivot section of the driving plate is pivotally connected with the linking block of the drive unit; 
 the second pivot section of the driving plate is pivotally connected with the mounting portion of the braking member. 
 
     
     
       2. The castor of  claim 1 , wherein
 the braking member has a mediate portion provided with a pivot portion pivotally connected with the mounting bracket; 
 the pivot portion of the braking member is disposed between the locking section and the braking section of the braking member; 
 the pivot portion of the braking member has a surface provided with an elastic resting portion abutting a top wall of the base bracket. 
 
     
     
       3. The castor of  claim 2 , wherein
 the locking section of the braking member is disposed under the locking portion of the locking disk at a normal state; 
 the braking section of the braking member is disposed above the wheel at a normal state and presses the wheel when the locking section of the braking member engages the locking portion of the locking disk; 
 the elastic resting portion of the braking member abuts the top wall of the base bracket when the braking section of the braking member is spaced from the wheel and when the locking section of the braking member is spaced from the locking portion of the locking disk. 
 
     
     
       4. The castor of  claim 1 , wherein
 the driving plate of the drive unit has a side provided with an opening to receive the linking block; 
 the linking block of the drive unit is pivotally mounted in the opening of the driving plate. 
 
     
     
       5. The castor of  claim 1 , wherein the braking section of the braking member has a bottom provided with a plurality of engaging blocks that are movable to engage the wheel. 
     
     
       6. The castor of  claim 1 , wherein
 the base bracket has a substantially inverted U-shaped profile; 
 the mounting bracket has a substantially inverted U-shaped profile. 
 
     
     
       7. The castor of  claim 1 , wherein
 the base bracket has an inner portion provided with a receiving space to receive the locking disk and the wheel; 
 the locking disk is disposed in the receiving space of the base bracket and is located above the wheel; 
 the mounting bracket is mounted on an open side of the base bracket and is located beside the receiving space of the base bracket. 
 
     
     
       8. The castor of  claim 1 , wherein
 the braking member is an elastic plate; 
 the braking member is pivotally mounted in the mounting bracket. 
 
     
     
       9. The castor of  claim 1 , wherein
 the base bracket is pivotally connected with the connecting board by a bearing; 
 the base bracket has a top pivotally connected with the connecting board; 
 the locking disk is fixedly connected with the connecting board by an upright support shaft. 
 
     
     
       10. The castor of  claim 1 , wherein
 the linking block of the drive unit abuts a top wall of the mounting bracket; 
 the first pivot section and the second pivot section of the driving plate are received in the mounting bracket; 
 the linking block of the drive unit is received in the mounting bracket.